Charleston County Parks is giving visitors a new way to take in the Holiday Festival of Lights this season: from the seat of a dragon boat. The county parks system is offering holiday-season dragon boat rides on the lake at James Island County Park, letting paddlers view the festival's light displays from the water before heading in to enjoy the rest of the event.
The paddles begin with an on-the-water introduction to dragon boating at 4:30 p.m., according to Who's On The Move, which reports that paddlers get to view the Holiday Festival of Lights from a new perspective: from the cockpit of a dragon boat on the lake at James Island County Park. Each boat carries ten paddlers, per the Charleston County Park and Recreation Commission's November events listing. After the paddle, participants receive hot chocolate and can then enjoy the rest of their evening at the Holiday Festival of Lights.
Dates, Ages and Pricing
The county's own listing gives November program dates as Nov. 16, 17, 18, 23, 24 and 30, running from 4:30 to 6 p.m. The same dates also appear in the county parks system's coverage, which additionally lists December sessions on Dec. 1, 2, 7, 8, 9, 14, 15 and 16, though those added December dates come from the outlet's own reporting rather than the typed county listing.
The program is offered for ages 10 and up, with participants ages 10 to 15 required to be accompanied by a registered chaperone. Registration runs $30 per person and includes dragon boating along with admission to the Holiday Festival of Lights that evening. Advance registration is required, and on-site registration will not be available — the county's listing adds that the program is expected to sell out and urges would-be paddlers to register in advance.
The Festival Itself
The dragon boat paddles are tied to the 37th Annual Holiday Festival of Lights, which opens Nov. 13 at James Island County Park and is hosted by the Charleston County Park and Recreation Commission. According to the Moultrie News, the light display extends three miles through the park and has welcomed millions of visitors over the years. This season, the festival is scheduled to be open every evening from Nov. 13 through Dec. 31, running nightly from 5:30 to 10 p.m.
Beyond the lights and the lake, guests can park their cars and explore family attractions and shopping once inside the festival grounds. For paddlers hoping to combine a dragon boat run with a night under the lights, the county's advance-registration requirement means planning ahead is the only way in — there's no option to sign up at the gate.
